| 1. Research methods | | | | great grandparents. Or if that's too much of a |
| There are many research methods available to | | | | mouthful we can state that the maximum |
| Genealogists ranging from the personal to the | | | | possible number of generations communicable by |
| historical to the scientific. To use a basic example, | | | | aural means is eight; your great grandparent may |
| a father has a personal relation to his son; this is | | | | recall his or her great grandparent but to trace |
| denoted on both his birth and baptism certificates | | | | your relatives by aural information beyond eight |
| and this, in turn, can now be verified by DNA | | | | generations would be remarkable indeed. |
| testing, as Courts around the world have done in | | | | 4. Written documents |
| innumerable succession and paternity cases. | | | | Beyond that point written documents are the |
| 2. DNA testing | | | | next frame of reference, though it is inevitable |
| Many of the salutary tales of DNA testing equally | | | | that at some stage in the not too distant future |
| apply back generations and these methods can | | | | genealogical data will be stored exclusively by |
| now be applied to both genealogical and | | | | electronic means ; indeed this process is already |
| archaeological endeavours. There is however a | | | | underway. |
| broader point here; the advent of the scientific | | | | 5. Original documentation |
| age has brought a sea change to genealogical | | | | However it should be pointed out that for |
| faculties the world over. | | | | verifiable authenticity a hard copy of original |
| 3. Aural proofs | | | | documentation is eminently preferable; the |
| Obviously the simplest way of tracing your | | | | practical approach dictates that there is no need |
| relatives is by primary aural proofs; clearly this | | | | to complicate. Therefore you should always start |
| frequently extends to grandparents or great | | | | with the most readily available option when |
| grandparents who may have knowledge of their | | | | attempting to trace your relatives. |